Kid Art

The California Raptor Center’s outreach program takes live bird “ambassadors” – hawks, falcons, and owls – and a fascinating collection of bones, feathers, wings, to Central California schools and nature groups. These particular birds, having come to CRC to be treated for injuries or other problems, are unable to be released because, despite good care, they did not recover the level of activity necessary for survival in the wild. Trained CRC volunteers patiently teach them to sit on the gloved fist and remain calm before crowds. A living bird is worth a million words!

The taming process begins with attaching anklets of leather onto the bird’s leg, just above the foot, and using removable jesses and a leash so the bird will be secured and safe if startled into launching off the handler’s fist. Those ambassador raptors who travel to schools and other sites must be particularly calm and trusting, to put up with travel and meet an enthusiastic crowd!

Here you will find drawings and paintings of: Grasshopper the Swainson’s Hawk, Buddy the Great Horned Owl, Spar the American Kestrel. They are all old hands at audiences. More will come along soon, to be introduced to you and to CRC’s “live” audiences. (There will be photographs as well.)

But this page is dedicated to the children who present their artwork and stories at the end of a class, because they have been enchanted by the birds.

CRC volunteers salute the children, the gifted teachers, and most of all, their winged assistants.